Free Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

would kiss her because I didn't think he could reach her face unless he stood on something. Maybe he'll stand on the toilet seat, I thought. And then I couldn't stop laughing at all.
    When they came out of the bathroom Laura's face was as red as Freddy's and I thought that was pretty funny for a girl who goes behind the A amp;P with boys.
    Laura called her number very softly. "Seven," she said.
    Philip Leroy stood up and smiled at the boys. He pushed his hair off his face and walked to the bathroom with his hands stuffed in his pockets. I kept thinking that if he really liked her he'd call her number back and the two of them would be in the bathroom together for the rest of the party.
    When they came out Philip was still smiling but Laura wasn't. Nancy poked me and gave me her knowing look. I was so busy watching Laura that I didn't hear Philip call number twelve.
    "Who's twelve?" Philip asked. "Somebody must be twelve."
    "Did you say twelve?" I asked. "That's me."
    "Well, come on, Margaret."
    I stood up knowing I'd never be able to make it across the recreation room to the bathroom, where Philip Leroy was waiting to kiss me. I saw Janie, Gretchen and Nancy smiling at me. But I couldn't smile back. I don't know how I got to the bathroom. All I know is I stepped in and Philip shut the door. It was hard to see anything.
    "Hi, Margaret," he said.
    "Hi, Philip," I whispered. Then I started to giggle.
    "I can't kiss you if you don't stop laughing," he said.
    "Why not?"
    "Because your mouth is open when you laugh."
    "You're going to kiss me on the mouth?"
    "You know a better place?"
    I stopped laughing. I wished I could remember what Nancy said that day she showed me how to kiss her pillow.
    "Stand still, Margaret," Philip told me.
    I stood still.
    He put his hands on my shoulders and leaned close. Then he kissed me. A really fast kiss! Not the kind you see in the movies where the boy and girl cling together for a long time. While I was thinking about it, Philip kissed me again. Then he opened the bathroom door and walked back to his place.
    "Call a number, Margaret," Norman said. "Hurry up."
    I couldn't even think of a number. I wanted to call Philip Leroy's number. But I couldn't remember it. So I called number nine and got Norman Fishbein!
    He was really proud. Like I'd picked him on purpose. Ha! He practically ran to the bathroom.
    After he closed the door he said, "I really like you, Margaret. How do you want me to kiss you?"
    "On the cheek and fast," I said.
    He did it just that way and I quickly opened the door and walked away from the bathroom. And that was it!
    Later, at my house, Nancy told me she thought I was the luckiest girl in the world and maybe it was fate that brought me and Philip Leroy together.
    "Did he kiss good?" she asked.
    "Pretty good," I said.
    "How many times?" she asked.
    "About five. I lost count," I told her.
    "Did he
say
anything?"
    "Nothing much."
    "Do you still like him?"
    "Of course!"
    "Me too."
    "Good night, Nancy."
    "Good night, Margaret."

15
    I went to Christmas Eve services with the Wheelers, at the United Methodist Church of Farbrook. I asked Nancy if I had to meet the minister.
    "Are you kidding!" she said. "The place will be mobbed. He doesn't even know
my
name."
    I relaxed after that and enjoyed most of the service, especially since there wasn't any sermon. The choir sang for forty-five minutes instead.
    I got home close to midnight. I was so tired my parents didn't question me. I fell into bed without brushing my teeth.
     
    Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. I just came home from church. I loved the choir-the songs were so beautiful. Still, I didn't really feel you God. I'm more confused than ever. I'm trying hard to understand but I wish you'd help me a little. If only you could give me a hint God. Which religion should I be? Sometimes I wish I'd been born one way or the other.
     
    Grandma came back from her cruise in time to pack up and head for Florida. She said New York had